Nico Hulkenberg says Force India good enough for podium finish

Updated: 11 October 2012 18:43 IST

The chase for that elusive podium finish continues but Sahara Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg, on Thursday, said that his team has the car and technology to achieve a top-3 finish in one of the remaining five races in this year's Formula One Championships.

Written by Press Trust of India

Read Time: 2 mins

New Delhi:

The chase for that elusive podium finish continues but Sahara Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg, on Thursday, said that his team has the car and technology to achieve a top-3 finish in one of the remaining five races in this year's Formula One Championships.

A peek into the drivers' and constructors' standings and one is convinced that the German was certainly not off the mark.

"It's good (the cars). Both of us (he and Paul di Resta) have been close to podium finishes (this season). We can, certainly (finish on podium), with a good strategy," Hulkenberg told PTI during a telephonic chat.

He is still hopeful of narrowing the gap with Sauber-Ferrari on the constructors standings and says a top-3 finish in the Indian Grand Prix here would be a "dream come true".

Placed seventh on the constructors' standings with 81 points, Sahara Force India trail Sauber-Ferrari, who are a place above, by 35 points.

"It would be a dream come true. We all are working hard towards that... we have to be realistic. It would be huge achievement for all of us," Hulkenberg said.

Among points in the last four races and with five more legs to go, the German was bullish about reducing the deficit, or maybe, overtaking Sauber by the end of the season.

"I do believe that we can still compete (with Sauber). We have to get a lot of momentum and we are trying hard," he said.

Hulkenberg also put to rest speculation about a possible move to Ferrari in 2013.

"At the moment there has been only speculation in the media. I am happy with Force India at the moment. All I can say is that nothing has been announced yet on my future," he said.

The battle for the numero uno position in the overall standings has become intense after reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel narrowed the gap with leader Fernando Alonso, winning the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka last week.

"Sebastian is in a good position. If he can continue the form he can again be the world champion," the Force India driver said.

His best outing so far has been a fourth-place finish and asked how eager he is to better that, Hulkenberg said, "It's difficult to predict. Fourth is not a bad result, I guess."

Hulkenberg finished seventh in the the Japanese Grand Prix to bag six points.

Hulkenberg's teammate Paul di Resta finished 12th, exactly where he started from, and could not score points.

Currently, di Resta is 12th in the drivers' championship with 44 points while Hulkenberg is 14th with 37.

Immediately after the Japanese GP, team owner Vijay Mallya had expressed satisfaction that his drivers could collect more points than last year.